Patents by Inventor Franz Kappeler

Franz Kappeler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240428904
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for generating, performing, and evaluating virtual clinical trials that include clinic modules to represent real-world operational aspects of trial entities are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one memory, and logic coupled to the at least one memory. The logic may be configured to generate a plurality of avatars configured to model a health condition associated with a population of patients, and to perform a virtual clinical trial to simulate a course of treatment for the plurality of avatars, the virtual clinical trial to include at least one clinic module associated with at least one event and a probability for the at least one event, the at least one event to model an operational aspect of an entity of the virtual clinical trial. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Doris H. Fuertinger, Alice Topping, Franz Kappel, Stephan Thijssen, Peter Kotanko
  • Patent number: 12106831
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for generating, performing, and evaluating virtual clinical trials that include clinic modules to represent real-world operational aspects of trial entities are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one memory, and logic coupled to the at least one memory. The logic may be configured to generate a plurality of avatars configured to model a health condition associated with a population of patients, and to perform a virtual clinical trial to simulate a course of treatment for the plurality of avatars, the virtual clinical trial to include at least one clinic module associated with at least one event and a probability for the at least one event, the at least one event to model an operational aspect of an entity of the virtual clinical trial. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Doris H. Fuertinger, Alice Topping, Franz Kappel, Stephan Thijssen, Peter Kotanko
  • Patent number: 11878098
    Abstract: A method includes: receiving measurements of a blood-related parameter corresponding to a patient undergoing hemodialysis; estimating a value of one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters by applying a vascular refill model based on the received measurements of the blood-related parameter, wherein the one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters are indicative of an effect of vascular refill on the patient caused by the hemodialysis; determining, based on the one or more estimated values of the one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters, a hemodialysis treatment-related operation; and facilitating performance of the treatment-related operation. The vascular refill model is a two-compartment model based on a first compartment corresponding to blood plasma in the patient's body, a second compartment based on interstitial fluid in the patient's body, and a semi-permeable membrane separating the first compartment and the second compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Aurelio A. de los Reyes, V, Doris H. Fuertinger, Franz Kappel, Anna Meyring-Wosten, Stephan Thijssen, Peter Kotanko
  • Publication number: 20230352183
    Abstract: Described herein are computer systems and methods for generating, in silico, one or more virtual patients. The one or more virtual patients can be used, for example, to conduct a virtual clinical trial, such as to determine an efficacy of a therapy or medical device. The one or more virtual patients mathematically represent a physiological system in an actual patient for a health condition. Also, the one or more virtual patients can be used, for example, to determine an adverse effect from a therapy or any other deviation from a therapy, or compliance of a patient suffering from a health condition on a therapeutic protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Doris Fuertinger, Franz Kappel, Peter Kotanko, Stephan Thijssen
  • Publication number: 20220270719
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for generating, performing, and evaluating virtual clinical trials that include clinic modules to represent real-world operational aspects of trial entities are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one memory, and logic coupled to the at least one memory. The logic may be configured to generate a plurality of avatars configured to model a health condition associated with a population of patients, and to perform a virtual clinical trial to simulate a course of treatment for the plurality of avatars, the virtual clinical trial to include at least one clinic module associated with at least one event and a probability for the at least one event, the at least one event to model an operational aspect of an entity of the virtual clinical trial. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Doris H. Fuertinger, Alice Topping, Franz Kappel, Stephan Thijssen, Peter Kotanko
  • Patent number: 11295866
    Abstract: Described herein are computer systems and methods for generating, in silico, one or more virtual patients. The one or more virtual patients can be used, for example, to conduct a virtual clinical trial, such as to determine an efficacy of a therapy or medical device. The one or more virtual patients mathematically represent a physiological system in an actual patient for a health condition. Also, the one or more virtual patients can be used, for example, to determine an adverse effect from a therapy or any other deviation from a therapy, or compliance of a patient suffering from a health condition on a therapeutic protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Doris Fuertinger, Franz Kappel, Peter Kotanko, Stephan Thijssen
  • Patent number: 11282590
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for generating, performing, and evaluating virtual clinical trials that include clinic modules to represent real-world operational aspects of trial entities are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one memory, and logic coupled to the at least one memory. The logic may be configured to generate a plurality of avatars configured to model a health condition associated with a population of patients, and to perform a virtual clinical trial to simulate a course of treatment for the plurality of avatars, the virtual clinical trial to include at least one clinic module associated with at least one event and a probability for the at least one event, the at least one event to model an operational aspect of an entity of the virtual clinical trial. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Doris H. Fuertinger, Alice Topping, Franz Kappel, Stephan Thijssen, Peter Kotanko
  • Publication number: 20200139034
    Abstract: A method includes: receiving measurements of a blood-related parameter corresponding to a patient undergoing hemodialysis; estimating a value of one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters by applying a vascular refill model based on the received measurements of the blood-related parameter, wherein the one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters are indicative of an effect of vascular refill on the patient caused by the hemodialysis; determining, based on the one or more estimated values of the one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters, a hemodialysis treatment-related operation; and facilitating performance of the treatment-related operation. The vascular refill model is a two-compartment model based on a first compartment corresponding to blood plasma in the patient's body, a second compartment based on interstitial fluid in the patient's body, and a semi-permeable membrane separating the first compartment and the second compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Aurelio A. de los Reyes, V, Doris H. Fuertinger, Franz Kappel, Anna Meyring-Wosten, Stephan Thijssen, Peter Kotanko
  • Patent number: 10569000
    Abstract: A method includes: receiving measurements of a blood-related parameter corresponding to a patient undergoing hemodialysis; estimating a value of one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters by applying a vascular refill model based on the received measurements of the blood-related parameter, wherein the one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters are indicative of an effect of vascular refill on the patient caused by the hemodialysis; determining, based on the one or more estimated values of the one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters, a hemodialysis treatment-related operation; and facilitating performance of the treatment-related operation. The vascular refill model is a two-compartment model based on a first compartment corresponding to blood plasma in the patient's body, a second compartment based on interstitial fluid in the patient's body, and a semi-permeable membrane separating the first compartment and the second compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Aurelio A. De los Reyes, V, Doris H. Fuertinger, Franz Kappel, Anna Meyring-Wosten, Stephan Thijssen, Peter Kotanko
  • Patent number: 10319478
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a patient's undesired hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration to a value within a desired range at a predetermined time with an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) regimen includes obtaining patient parameters required for input into a model for predicting the patient's hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration at a predetermined time with a selected ESA administration regimen, and employing the patient parameters and an initially selected EPO administration regimen in the model to predict the patient's hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration at the predetermined time with the initially selected ESA administration regimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Doris Helene Fuertinger, Franz Kappel, Peter Kotanko, Nathan W. Levin, Stephan Thijssen
  • Publication number: 20190019570
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for generating, performing, and evaluating virtual clinical trials that include clinic modules to represent real-world operational aspects of trial entities are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one memory, and logic coupled to the at least one memory. The logic may be configured to generate a plurality of avatars configured to model a health condition associated with a population of patients, and to perform a virtual clinical trial to simulate a course of treatment for the plurality of avatars, the virtual clinical trial to include at least one clinic module associated with at least one event and a probability for the at least one event, the at least one event to model an operational aspect of an entity of the virtual clinical trial. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Doris H. Fuertinger, Alice Topping, Franz Kappel
  • Publication number: 20170239409
    Abstract: A method includes: receiving measurements of a blood-related parameter corresponding to a patient undergoing hemodialysis; estimating a value of one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters by applying a vascular refill model based on the received measurements of the blood-related parameter, wherein the one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters are indicative of an effect of vascular refill on the patient caused by the hemodialysis; determining, based on the one or more estimated values of the one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters, a hemodialysis treatment-related operation; and facilitating performance of the treatment-related operation. The vascular refill model is a two-compartment model based on a first compartment corresponding to blood plasma in the patient's body, a second compartment based on interstitial fluid in the patient's body, and a semi-permeable membrane separating the first compartment and the second compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Aurelio A. De los Reyes, V, Doris H. Fuertinger, Franz Kappel, Anna Meyring-Wosten, Stephan Thijssen, Peter Kotanko
  • Patent number: 9679111
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a patient's undesired hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration to a value within a desired range at a predetermined time with an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) regimen includes obtaining patient parameters required for input into a model for predicting the patient's hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration at a predetermined time with a selected ESA administration regimen, the model including iron homeostasis, and employing the patient parameters and an initially selected ESA administration regimen in the model to predict the patient's hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration at the predetermined time with the initially selected ESA administration regimen. The method then includes administering ESA to the patient with an ESA administration regimen predicted to adjust the patient's hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration to the desired range at the predetermined time. The method can be implemented in a hemodialysis system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Doris Helene Fuertinger, Franz Kappel, Peter Kotanko, Nathan W. Levin, Stephan Thijssen
  • Publication number: 20160180053
    Abstract: Described herein are computer systems and methods for generating, in silico, one or more virtual patients. The one or more virtual patients can be used, for example, to conduct a virtual clinical trial, such as to determine an efficacy of a therapy or medical device. The one or more virtual patients mathematically represent a physiological system in an actual patient for a health condition. Also, the one or more virtual patients can be used, for example, to determine an adverse effect from a therapy or any other deviation from a therapy, or compliance of a patient suffering from a health condition on a therapeutic protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Doris Fuertinger, Franz Kappel, Peter Kotanko, Stephan Thijssen
  • Publication number: 20140200181
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a patient's undesired hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration to a value within a desired range at a predetermined time with an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) regimen includes obtaining patient parameters required for input into a model for predicting the patient's hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration at a predetermined time with a selected ESA administration regimen, and employing the patient parameters and an initially selected EPO administration regimen in the model to predict the patient's hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration at the predetermined time with the initially selected ESA administration regimen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventors: Doris Helene Fuertinger, Franz Kappel, Peter Kotanko, Nathan W. Levin, Stephan Thijssen
  • Publication number: 20140128791
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a patient's undesired hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration to a value within a desired range at a predetermined time with an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) regimen includes obtaining patient parameters required for input into a model for predicting the patient's hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration at a predetermined time with a selected ESA administration regimen, the model including iron homeostasis, and employing the patient parameters and an initially selected ESA administration regimen in the model to predict the patient's hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration at the predetermined time with the initially selected ESA administration regimen. The method then includes administering ESA to the patient with an ESA administration regimen predicted to adjust the patient's hematocrit and/or hemoglobin concentration to the desired range at the predetermined time. The method can be implemented in a hemodialysis system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: DORIS HELENE FUERTINGER, FRANZ KAPPEL, PETER KOTANKO, NATHAN W. LEVIN, STEPHAN THIJSSEN
  • Publication number: 20130207603
    Abstract: The invention provides a device and method for wireless transmission of energy. An electromagnetic field used for transmitting energy is generated using a resonator system comprising a plurality of weakly coupled resonators, the resonator system having a plurality of eigenmodes with different eigenfrequencies. At least one generator is coupled to one of the resonators. The resonator is configured to operate the resonator system at one of the plurality of eigenmodes, thereby generating a spatially coherent magnetic field adapted for transmitting energy to an appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Hochschule fur angewandte Wissenschaften FH Munchen
    Inventors: Franz Kappeler, Jürgen Rackles, Daniela Waldau
  • Patent number: 7656917
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for generating light pulses includes an electro-optical converter; a switching element; and a charge store. The electro-optical converter is connected to the charge store via the switching element. The closing of the switching element triggers a discharging process in the charge store and, in the process, generates an electrical pulse that is converted to a light pulse in the electro-optical converter. First and second impedance matching circuits are arranged, respectively, between the charge store and the switching element and between the switching element and the electro-optical converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Leuze Lumiflex GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Brunner, Robert Auer, Franz Kappeler
  • Publication number: 20060280214
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for generating light pulses includes an electro-optical converter; a switching element; and a charge store. The electro-optical converter is connected to the charge store via the switching element. The closing of the switching element triggers a discharging process in the charge store and, in the process, generates an electrical pulse that is converted to a light pulse in the electro-optical converter. First and second impedance matching circuits are arranged, respectively, between the charge store and the switching element and between the switching element and the electro-optical converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: Leuze Lumiflex GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Rolf Brunner, Robert Auer, Franz Kappeler
  • Patent number: 6325474
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for writing on thermographic material (5). The inventive device (1) comprises a heater (20) with which the thermographic material (5) is preheated to a temperature, which is lower than a writing temperature. The thermographic material (5) can be written on with a writing instrument (10) which is distanced from the thermographic material (5) after input of an information signal (s(t)). The writing instrument (10) has a plurality of individually controllable point sources (30-33; 51-53). The thermographic material (5) can be written on in a point-by-point manner with said point sources (30-33; 51-53).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: AGFA Gevaert AG
    Inventors: Wolfram Betzold, Leo Oelbrandt, Friedrich Stumpf, Thomas Zehetmaier, Ivan Hoogmartens, Luc Leenders, Hans Strijckers, Herbert Gebele, Franz Kappeler